My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Despite good outing, Happ loses as bats remain silent as the Phils lose to the D-backs, 4-0.

In spite of a quality start, J.A. Happ loses his second start in a row as the Phillies’ offense is unable to get the big hit as the Phils are blanked by the D-backs, 4-0. They now lead the Marlins in the NL East by six games, as they head on to San Francisco for four games with the wild card-leading Giants.

The D-backs took the lead in the first as, with a man on base, and one out, Justin Upton hits a two-run home run, his nineteenth home run of the season, knocking in Stephen Drew, who had earlier singled, giving the D-backs a 2-0 lead. Phils’s starter J.A. Happ, after the home run, would settle down and keep the D-backs from causing any more trouble as he pitched a quality six innings of work, giving up only one more hit after that, along with two walks, while striking out five. Meanwhile, D-backs’ starter Yusmeiro Petit pitched a bit better as he gave the Phils’ batters fits during the six innings that he worked, giving up only two hits and a walk in those innings, as he struck out eight Phils. It wouldn’t be until the seventh when the Phils would be able to mount a threat, as Ryan Howard started the inning off with a single. Raul Ibanez followed him with a double, putting runners on second and third with no one out, as Howard stops at third base. Petit is replaced on the mound by Juan Gutierrez, who proceeded to strike out first Jayson Werth, and then Greg Dobbs, both swinging. The next batter, Carlos Ruiz, then worked a walk, loading the bases. But Gutierrez would turn the Phils away as pinch hitter Pedro Feliz flies out to center for the final out. The D-backs then increased their lead in their half of the seventh as, Chris Snyder hits a lead-off home run, his sixth home run of the season, making it 3-0 D-backs. The D-backs added an insurance run in the eighth as, with one man on and nobody out, Upton hits an RBI single, knocking in Gerardo Parra, who had earlier doubled, on a play that was reviewed by the umpires and declared a double, giving the D-backs a 4-0 lead. That would be the final score as the Phils went down in the ninth.

J.A. Happ took the lost as he pitched six quality innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out five. His record is now 7-2 with an ERA of 2.97. Scott Eyre pitched an inning, giving up a run on two hits. Tyler Walker also pitched an inning, also giving up a run on two hits, as he struck out two. Yusmeiro Petit got the win as he pitched six innings plus two batters of shut out ball, giving up only four hits and a walk, while he struck out eight, His record is now 1-5 with an ERA of 6.75. Juan Gutierrez then pitched a scoreless inning as he recorded his fourth hold, as he only walked a batter, while striking out two. Jon Rauch recorded his eighth hold of the year as he also pitched a scoreless inning, giving up two hits, while he struck out two. Chad Qualls pitched a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit.

The Phils had only seven hits in the game, with Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez both collecting two hits, with one of Ibanez’s hits being a double. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth had the other three Phils’ hits, with Werth’s hit being a double. The Phils were unable to knock in a run as the Phillies’ bats were unable to get the necessary big hit to get into the ballgame, as they were a bit too aggressive in the batter’s box.

The Phillies (58-41, 1st National League East) continue their road trip with a four-games set with the Giants (55-46, 2nd National League West) starting with a night game tonight. The game will be played at At&T Park and will begin at 10:15 pm Eastern (7:15 pm Pacific). The Phils will send to the mound Rodrigo Lopez (3-0, 3.09), who is coming off a win against the Cardinals on July 25, as he went six innings, giving up three runs on ten hits and a walk, while striking out two, in the Phils’ 14-6 rout. He will be going for his fourth win in what is more than likely his last start for the Phils this season as Cliff Lee will join the team after the trade. The Giants will counter with Jonathan Sanchez (3-9, 4.92), who is coming off a lost against the Rockies on July 25, as he went five innings, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out five, in the Giants’ 8-2 lost. He will be trying to keep from becoming another victim of the Phillies’ potent offense. The Phils will be trying to put together a new winning streak while showing that they can defeat anyone in the NL. They also would like to add on to their six games lead over the Marlins.

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